What 4/9 means
With fractional odds, the first number is what you win and the second is what you stake. At 4/9, you stake £9 to win £4, so your profit is smaller than your stake. That's what makes it odds-on: the bookmaker rates this outcome as more likely to happen than not.
It's read as "four to nine", but bookmakers often turn odds-on prices round, so you'll also hear 4/9 called "nine to four on" or "9/4 on". Both mean the same thing.
4/9 in decimal and American odds
| Format | 4/9 as | How it's worked out |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 1.44 | 4 ÷ 9 + 1 |
| American | -225 | 100 ÷ (1.44 − 1) |
| Implied probability | 69.2% | 1 ÷ 1.44 |
What 4/9 pays
| Stake | Profit | Total return |
|---|---|---|
| £1.00 | £0.44 | £1.44 |
| £2.00 | £0.89 | £2.89 |
| £5.00 | £2.22 | £7.22 |
| £10.00 | £4.44 | £14.44 |
| £20.00 | £8.89 | £28.89 |
| £50.00 | £22.22 | £72.22 |
| £100.00 | £44.44 | £144.44 |
How likely is 4/9 to win?
4/9 implies a 69.2% chance, or about 9 in 13. The bookmaker expects this outcome more often than not. The true chance is usually a little lower than this, because bookmakers build a margin into every price.
4/9 each way
An each way bet splits your stake between a win bet and a place bet, with the place part paid at a fraction of 4/9. For a £5 each way bet (£10 in total):
| Place terms | Place odds | Returns if it wins | Returns if it places |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 odds | 1/9 | £12.78 | £5.56 |
| 1/5 odds | 4/45 | £12.67 | £5.44 |
At 1/5 terms, a placed finish returns £5.44 from the £10 total stake, so it still loses £4.56 overall. Each way needs bigger prices than 4/9 for the place part to cover the bet. Work out any each way bet.
If a horse at 4/9 is withdrawn
When a horse priced at 4/9 is withdrawn after you've bet on another runner in the same race, Rule 4 takes 65p from every £1 of your winnings. It applies to bets struck at a fixed price before the withdrawal. Work out a Rule 4 deduction.
Prices either side of 4/9
See every common price explained, or convert any price with the odds converter.